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Farming Today: 10/01/2023 US trade, Future of protein, Sustainable seed drill

10/01/2023 US trade, Future of protein, Sustainable seed drill

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 10/01/2023 US trade, Future of protein, Sustainable seed drill

US trade, the future of protein, and sustainable seed drill.

The US says an agricultural trade deal with the UK would only be possible without tariffs or barriers. Conversations about the future of protein. Farmer unveils his new seed drill at Lamma.

America will not be able to sign a trade deal for agricultural goods with the UK, unless the agreement includes 'no tariffs, and no barriers' according to a senior US Dept Agriculture representative. Jason Hafemesiter Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs says the US wants to embrace new technologies such as gene editing to reduce its reliance on fertilizers and pesticides, creating a more sustainable farming system. So, if a trade deal is signed between the UK and the USA, it would have to include crops produced in this way. He was also keen to point out that America would not want to see barriers to exports of hormone-treated beef or chorine-washed chicken. 

Meat production and alternative protein sources were up for debate at the Oxford REAL Farming Conference, as part of a wider discussion throughout the conference on sustainable food production. Nourish Scotland - a charity which focuses on food policy and practice - brought together farmers, academics, producers and consumers from all over the country for a workshop to explore some of the problems and solutions. We dropped in on a session entitled "What's at Steak?".

A farmer with a passion for engineering and the environment will be unveiling a seed drill he’s designed at Lamma  - the agricultural machinery show at the NEC in Birmingham. Martin Lole, whose company Mzuri is based in Worcestershire, calls his new machine the Ipass. It’s been set up to be used in a strip tillage system to minimise disruption to the soil and promises to deliver higher crop yields. 

Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

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